1280x1024 displayed without stretch or compress

[dtleahy7]

Hello,

As far as I can tell, there are no modern notebooks with a 1280x1024 native resolution. I have an application that displays a series of images (a huge, text-annotated flowchart, using small fonts), that was written for desktop 1280x1024, and every pixel needs to be displayed. I don't want to stretch or compress anything, or the text will become nearly impossible to read.)

So, I'm assuming I need a notebook with a higher screen resolution, and will want to set it up to center on screen, allowing big "black bars" on the left and right of the screen (as well as small black bars on the top and bottom.) I'm thinking 1400x1050.

This notebook computer will not be used for gaming or movies - just general office applications, plus the critical job of displaying this one custom-written (1280x1024) application. So, other than the video resolution requirement, a very basic (read: "inexpensive") notebook should do just fine. Can anyone help me nail down some specific notebooks that will definitely allow me to run the custom 1280x1024 application without stretching or compressing? I'm not sure all video cards in all notebooks will do this.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

[cheesehead]

I actually have one that would fit the bill that I'm selling. It's an ECS Green series laptop - while nothing special in terms of hardware, this series of laptop features 15" screens with resolutions of 1400x1050 - just what you need.

I recall that some of the Thinkpads supported SXGA (1280x1024) resolutions in the T- and R-series notebooks. The R-series pentium-M machines, while a bit bulky and not exactly high-powered, are high quality Thinkpads nonetheless - at and less than $700 when new, you should have no trouble obtaining one refurbished for a reasonable price. Refurb laptops have a big advantage - you get a used laptop's price with a new laptop's warranty.

 

[dementedlemur]

I had a gateway solo 9300 series that had a 15.1" screen w/ a native 1280x1024 resolution. It was a PIII-M 1.13, 512mb ram, and built in wireless. I got mine for $250ish last year on the forums. They do make a standard xga version though so be sure to check for that.

 

[dtleahy7]

Thanks for the suggestions, but this needs to be a new notebook. So, (assuming that I am correct that a 1400x1050 display will be able to display 1280x1024 with black bars), I'm still hoping that a few of you might be able to suggest some notebooks that have 1400x1050 native resolution.

Seems like the Dell desktop hardware has become garbage, and the support a joke, but this customer of mine will want to spend as little as possible for the notebook and that might mean Dell is in the running. I know Gateway's laptop/notebooks used to be pretty well made... And, Toshiba and Sony made pretty good ones too, though more expensive...

If you needed an inexpensive notebook that would provide 1400x1050 native resolution, what would you buy?

Thanks!

Dennis

 

[alimoalem]

the cheapest is probably the dell inspiron 1505. if you're not looking for looks, this should work. you can also go with a dell latitude d620 (the D820 is like $200-300 more expensive but it's the 15" version of the D620). the D620 is a 14" wide screen with (iirc) a $30 upgrade to 1400x1050. this looks good and is in the small business section so the service is better.

if you can get your hands on a thinkpad r60, however, i think that would be teh best deal. i'm not sure if it would come with your needed resolution but it isn't widescreen so the default might be 1280x1024

 

[postmortemIA]

1680x1050 notebook with nvidia graphics should do fine for you- you can turn on 1:1 pixel representation, and you'll get only black bars on left and right. Probably ATi cards will let you do the same.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
1680x1050 notebook with nvidia graphics should do fine for you- you can turn on 1:1 pixel representation, and you'll get only black bars on left and right. Probably ATi cards will let you do the same.

Yes, ATi cards do have a similar option. It may be driver-dependent, but I have seen it running the Omega drivers. When you click on Displays, and click on the LCD in question, there is the option for scaling that you can click off. This is on a HPaq Evo N610C with a Radeon Mobile 7500 and a 14.1" 1024x768 LCD.

 

[russell2002]

Ebay for something used.....

Most things 14" or 15" that are NOT widescreen....

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: dtleahy7
Thanks for the suggestions, but this needs to be a new notebook. So, (assuming that I am correct that a 1400x1050 display will be able to display 1280x1024 with black bars), I'm still hoping that a few of you might be able to suggest some notebooks that have 1400x1050 native resolution.

Seems like the Dell desktop hardware has become garbage, and the support a joke, but this customer of mine will want to spend as little as possible for the notebook and that might mean Dell is in the running. I know Gateway's laptop/notebooks used to be pretty well made... And, Toshiba and Sony made pretty good ones too, though more expensive...

If you needed an inexpensive notebook that would provide 1400x1050 native resolution, what would you buy?

Thanks!

Dennis

Definitely HP/Compaq. The low end stuff is not much - if any - better than Dell, but I liked the tech support so much that I actually sent a note to the tech's supervisor complementing him.

I have dealt with Dell tech support, and would not wish it on anyone.

 

[Ichigo]

This isn't a difficult question to answer. Get any laptop with an nvidia GPU. Youc an scale 1:1. ATI is too annoying to bother with if scaling is an important feature.